viewmatic # 7 ~ the beauty of simply taking photographs

stuff on kitchen counter ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK (click to embiggen)

Considering today's artspeak blather / bullocks quote ...

"The photographs contained herein are a record of some things I have seen since I first began to use the camera as a framing tool in 1970."

... I thought posting an image which emphasised the "framing tool" function of a camera would be the thing to do.

The quote is from Michael Dunev whose pictures are presented in today's entry on LENSCRATCH. That entry begins with the statement that ...

...Sometimes we get so caught up in the intention of photography or finding subjects to build a project on, that we forget the beauty of simply taking photographs...

... a notion with which I totally agree, with the exception of the Academic Lunatic Fringe which is always caught up in the intention of photograph.

Dunev's pictures do indeed appear to be made with the idea of "simply making photographs" at the fore of his picturing M.O. His pictures are relatively free of picture making tropes-and-tricks artifice commonly employed to feign artfulness. Although, that written, his pictures do exhibit a visual nod to those of Michael Kenna. (Please consider this statement as an observation rather than as a criticism).

In any event, where Dunev loses me is with his Artist Statement in which - while certainly not the most egregious artspeak bullocks I have ever read - he, seemingly like most art school grads, veers off into references to "quantum mechanics" and the "uncertainty priciple" and, of course, "the camera as a framing tool".

While I understand why picture makers from the Academic Lunatic Fringe need to write artspeak-infested viewer instruction guides in order to connect a viewer to their pictures - which most often do not evidence any visual clue regarding the picture maker's intent - why can't art school grads let their pictures "speak" for themselves and, in the process, let the viewer "read / interpret / understand" a picture(s) according to what they see in a picture (visually) and what they bring to the viewng experience?

Dunev also wrote:

The photographs contained herein are a record of some things I have seen since I first began to use the camera as a framing tool (ed. strike out) in 1970. They are a subjective interpretation of topics that have concerned me over the years, such as loneliness in the urban landscape, the relationship between people and nature and the human footprint on our environment, transforming over the years, my own perception of the object of my gaze, to remain as still reminders of a single moment.

iMo, that's all he needed to write.

polaroid transfer (simulated) # 2 ~ killing time

2 trees ~ Ft. Covington, NY (click to embiggen)

In the making of these simulated Polaroid image transfer pictures, I am first applying a retro lomography film look (of my own making) to the featured image. The polaroid border is a scan of one of my original transfers - one wich needs to be scanned again at a much higher res.

All of this playing around is little more than a can-I-do-it-? time killer while I try to get my head wrapped around a new picture making approach.

Polaroid transfer (simulated) # 1 ~ keeping on keeping on

Homestead Restaurant / simulated Polaroid transfer ~ Alexandria Bay / 1000 Islands, NY (click to embiggen)

There are times like now during which I feel as though (for me) I have made every picture there is to be made. That every picture I make is an act of repeating my picture making self over and over again.

While I continue to make pictures during these periods and eventually work my way out of it, this time seems to be different. I will continue to make pictures, however, at the core of it, I am actively searching for a new picture making means of expression.

That written, I don't believe I will find a new direction by thinking about it. It seems to me that my main sourse of action to is make lots of pictures about which I really don't care very much. In doing so, it is my hope, that I will stumble upon a some prick to my eye and sensibilities which will be the genmination of a new manner of picture making.

To be certain, by "a new manner of picture making" I do not mean a new style or technique. Rather, I mean an attention to a referent which is different from those to which I have been paying attention. Or, quite possibly an existing referent to which I have not been paying enough attention - my In Situ work comes to mind.

In any event, I'll just keep on keeping on and see what happens.

civilized ku # 4089 ~ stupid is as stupid does

warm sunlight on a cold day ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK (click to embiggen)

Just in case any of the gullible dolts who voted for Trump are paying attention to actual facts, it must be noted that, in one of its first acts since the Trump victory, the Republications have stripped "Buy American" provisions from an American water infrastructure bill which would have required any project for water infrastructure rebuilding and repair funded by the federal government to use American-made steel.

Ah, yes. I can't think of a better way to create and protect American jobs.

People, it's time to start paying attention to actions from the GOP rather than their worthless words. And, when you find them lacking, be sure to tell your friends and neighbors all about how "wonderfully" the GOP is keeping their promise to create and protect American workers' interests.